The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 369

신마의선 (369)

A rough, hoarse voice, like a crow’s caw.

Moreover, the voice echoed chaotically in the narrow alley, making it difficult to pinpoint its location.

“I’ve come to see Youngeum Nanhee (妖吟亂戱) [Seductress Nanhee, a likely stage name or title],” Cho Ak-ryang announced.

The other party’s voice, upon hearing Cho Ak-ryang’s words, was tinged with displeasure.

“I told you to identify yourself, didn’t I?”

Cho Ak-ryang chuckled and readily replied.

“Cho Ak-ryang.”

“……!”

The figure hidden in the darkness was startled.

Just hearing those three names made their vision blur and their chest tighten.

‘How could he possibly…….’

Normally, they would have been suspicious, but the other party was staring at them as if piercing through the darkness.

To think that Hao Moon’s secret technique, which they prided themselves on for being able to evade the gaze of any expert, was so easily seen through!

But the shock didn’t end there.

Not to mention Blood Hand Master, the other two were also staring intently at their hiding place.

“Even Mangsan Choja [Mad Choja of Mangsan]!”

The man belatedly recognized Beom Gye-wi and exclaimed in astonishment.

Even more shocking was the presence of the boy, whose youthful appearance had not yet faded.

Each and every one of them was an expert he couldn’t handle.

Terrible, ominous beings; even one of them would be dreadful.

He couldn’t even begin to guess the purpose of their simultaneous visit here.

It was then.

“Go and tell her. I want to see her,” Cho Ak-ryang commanded.

The man, belatedly regaining his senses, hurriedly replied.

“J-Just a moment, please.”

He could feel the presence quickly disappearing inside.

How long had it been?

A door opened silently, and a person appeared.

A woman in a shimmering, jade-colored silk robe.

Over it, she wore a flamboyant outfit with a purple brocade draped precariously, revealing the curves of her body.

“This humble concubine, Seol Nan-yeong, dares to greet Blood Hand Master and Mangsan Choja. It is an unparalleled honor to have the opportunity to serve two such renowned figures of the Jianghu [Martial Arts World],” the woman said, bowing deeply, as if about to fly away.

Perhaps in her mid-thirties?

Her exposed, snow-white neck and slightly revealed skin.

Her captivating smile, filled with an irresistible charm, was enough to make any man feel dizzy.

However, she didn’t just possess a sensual aura.

Beneath her heavy makeup was a hint of purity and an inexplicable, subtle grace.

“And who is this?” Seol Nan-yeong asked, glancing at Dan Ak-seon.

Dan Ak-seon bowed his head towards Seol Nan-yeong.

“I am Dan Ak-seon.”

Seol Nan-yeong was taken aback.

“Ah! You must be the famous Divine Doctor, Dan Gongja [Young Master Dan]. I apologize for my poor judgment.”

Seol Nan-yeong apologized politely and gave a faint smile.

It was just that, but it felt as if the dark and gloomy surroundings brightened up.

At that moment, Cho Ak-ryang warned in a low voice.

“Don’t try any funny business.”

Seol Nan-yeong paused, then smiled innocently.

“How could I possibly do that in front of you two?”

Then, she stepped aside politely.

“Please, come inside.”

Following her guidance, the three entered the building and took seats on the prepared chairs.

“Shall I bring you some tea first? Or perhaps some fine wine?”

“No. Let’s get straight to the point,” Cho Ak-ryang said, cutting to the chase.

“If that’s what you wish, this concubine cannot help but feel disappointed. Such a golden opportunity is rare, after all.”

With those words, Seol Nan-yeong cast a strange glance at Dan Ak-seon.

It was a captivating smile that seemed capable of melting even an iron heart.

A technique to seduce and bewilder the opponent’s mind.

It was a type of Soul-Seizing Smile (攝魂笑) [a smile that captures the soul], a form of Bewitching Skill (美艶功) [skill of beauty and allure] that righteous martial artists considered a wicked art (邪術) [evil technique].

A strange light flickered in Dan Ak-seon’s eyes.

But that was all.

Seol Nan-yeong herself was rather taken aback that her Bewitching Skill hadn’t worked.

The boy before her was at an age where his hormones were raging.

Yet, his eyes remained as clear as tea, without the slightest wavering.

Seol Nan-yeong frowned slightly.

Cho Ak-ryang, who was watching the scene, chuckled softly.

Although it was considered a wicked art, Bewitching Skill was by no means a shallow practice.

At its weakest, it could stir the opponent’s heart and cause them to waver, and at its strongest, it could bind and control their very soul.

But the opponent was too formidable.

There was a clear gap in martial prowess between Dan Ak-seon and her.

Perhaps her pride was hurt?

Seol Nan-yeong pouted her lips and asked Cho Ak-ryang.

“By the way, I heard you had some business with this concubine?”

“I heard that poppy powder has been circulating on the streets recently. Who is distributing it?”

It was a guess made to seize the initiative in the conversation, but fortunately, there was a reaction.

Seol Nan-yeong struggled to hide her troubled expression.

“You’re asking quite a sensitive question.”

“The more uncomfortable the situation, the quicker it is to finish.”

“Does Cho Daehyup [Great Hero Cho] find this concubine uncomfortable? I certainly don’t feel that way……”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned at her, who was once again offering a captivating smile.

Seol Nan-yeong stepped back at Cho Ak-ryang’s slightly annoyed gaze.

“Well, I’m not sure where to start or how much to say. And above all, even though this concubine is a low-life, I have no intention of agreeing to such a coercive deal.”

“Deal?”

Seol Nan-yeong asked back with a bewildered expression at Cho Ak-ryang’s question.

“Does that mean Hao Moon doesn’t directly handle poppy powder?”

“……”

As if caught off guard, Seol Nan-yeong fell silent for a moment.

That’s why you can never let your guard down when dealing with experienced experts.

To accurately capture the information contained within such a short conversation.

“If you have no intention of making a deal, would you please leave? Providing information without compensation is against the rules of this sect. It is considered the greatest humiliation.”

“Heh……”

Beom Gye-wi let out a chilling laugh.

“What if we still want to know?”

Seol Nan-yeong also smiled brightly without backing down.

“Then you might as well kill me. No amount of threats will make me break the rules of this sect.”

“Many people have said similar things in front of me. But few have kept their word until the end. I wonder which one you will be?”

Beom Gye-wi reached out and grabbed Seol Nan-yeong’s wrist.

However, Seol Nan-yeong simply smiled silently.

After all, resisting Beom Gye-wi was meaningless.

Cho Ak-ryang sighed lightly at her stubborn appearance.

“She’s not the type of woman to yield to torture.”

Despite Cho Ak-ryang’s dissuasion, Beom Gye-wi didn’t give up.

“Then with Dan Doctor’s confession needles……”

“I can’t do that,” Dan Ak-seon said, shaking his head. Beom Gye-wi grumbled and stepped back.

“Tch! Everything Cho Hyung [Brother Cho] does is like this. He never finishes anything properly. Then why did we even come here?”

Cho Ak-ryang flared up.

“What, you bastard? What about you? It’s not like you know anyone here!”

“Why do I need to know that?”

“What?”

“If we just grab any Hao Moon members passing by and kill them one by one, eventually a higher-up will appear, right? And then eventually the Hao Moon Lord will appear, right?”

“So you’re saying we should kill them all?”

Beom Gye-wi asked back with an innocent expression.

“Why shouldn’t we?”

Cho Ak-ryang shook his head in exasperation.

It was pointless to talk to him, as he wouldn’t understand no matter what he said.

On the other hand, Seol Nan-yeong felt a slight chill run down her spine.

It was clearly not just an empty threat.

The madness of Mangsan Choja, which she had only heard rumors of.

Experiencing it for the first time, she could only gasp inwardly.

It was fortunate that Cho Ak-ryang was here with her.

It was then that Dan Ak-seon stepped forward.

“What kind of deal do you want?”

Seol Nan-yeong, having calmed her startled heart, met Dan Ak-seon’s gaze.

“I want to establish a Hao Moon branch in Muwi, can you allow it?”

“A branch?”

Dan Ak-seon recalled the report he had once heard from Neung So-mil.

“I heard you’ve tried several times already.”

“Each time, the local lord has interfered, preventing us from achieving our goal.”

Dan Ak-seon nodded with a bitter smile.

The reason Neung So-mil thoroughly excluded Hao Moon from Muwi was simple.

It was because he hated them to the core.

Neung So-mil had once been a member of Hao Moon.

As a child, after losing his family to an epidemic, it was the method Neung So-mil chose to survive.

But he escaped from there at the age of fifteen.

It was after being involved in a murder case that occurred at a gambling den run by Hao Moon.

The upper echelons of Hao Moon forced him to make a false statement, promising him a higher position in return.

But the quick-witted Neung So-mil didn’t trust the upper echelons’ persuasion.

It was because he knew the fate of those who were used and discarded in this way.

Now, as the administrative head of Muwi, there was no way Neung So-mil would easily forgive such Hao Moon.

Of course, if he asked, he would accept it even if he didn’t want to, but Dan Ak-seon didn’t want to do that.

“That’s beyond my authority.”

Having set the tone from the start, Dan Ak-seon continued.

“Besides, it seems like an unreasonable request compared to the value of the information I want. Can a deal where one side unilaterally loses really be considered fair?”

“I thought so, too?”

Seol Nan-yeong readily admitted, as if she hadn’t expected much from the start.

Then, she wore her usual bright smile.

“Then how about adding one more thing to balance it out?”

“……?”

“How about spending a night with me?”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned at her blatant seduction.

On the other hand, Beom Gye-wi crossed his arms and stared intently at Seol Nan-yeong.

After a while.

“Maybe it’s not bad?”

Cho Ak-ryang glared at Beom Gye-wi with a serious expression.

“How can you say that?”

“Cho Hyung, you’re so stingy when I see you like this.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say that at some point? That even though you’re trying your best to woo someone, giving in appropriately at this point is also a consideration for the other person? Cho Hyung can do it, but why can’t Dan Doctor?”

“……!”

When on earth did that story come from!

While the flustered Cho Ak-ryang was unable to speak.

Dan Ak-seon smiled and nodded.

“Still, I learned that there’s an order to everything.”

As Dan Ak-seon reached out his hand, Seol Nan-yeong wore a somewhat surprised expression, as if it were unexpected.

She hadn’t expected Dan Ak-seon, who hadn’t been shaken at all by her Bewitching Skill, to accept her proposal so easily.

“Unlike the rumors, you’re a man who appreciates romance.”

As Dan Ak-seon took Seol Nan-yeong’s outstretched hand with a smile, he began to circulate the Power of Falsehood (僞化神功) [a technique to disguise one’s true nature].

‘Hao Moon is also included in the conditions mentioned by the Lord.’

The strange sense of incongruity he felt the moment he first met Seol Nan-yeong’s smile.

He was trying to grasp the identity of that incongruity through pulse diagnosis.

Certainly, Hao Moon also had areas where their information gathering surpassed the Beggars’ Sect.

The only difference was that the Beggars’ Sect approached their targets directly, begging and inquiring, digging deep, while Hao Moon randomly gathered information through a network of information spread widely across various fields.

It was then that Seol Nan-yeong opened her mouth with a strange look in her eyes.

“You’re a bad man.”

“Yes?”

Seol Nan-yeong gave Dan Ak-seon a dizzying smile as he asked back.

“I mean a bad man who seduces women with sweet words and shakes their hearts.”

“Ah!”

Dan Ak-seon, realizing that his intentions had been exposed, gave an embarrassed smile.

But at that moment.

Seol Nan-yeong grabbed Dan Ak-seon’s hand, which he was about to withdraw.

“It’s okay, feel free to look.”

She didn’t miss the slight tremor in Dan Ak-seon’s eyes.

The composure that was like a solid fortress.